Process of reclaiming rubber



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less quantity of -sulphimn-fiber other for-, feign matter reference v being'hadto my pending application Serial No. 1Q8,963-, filed May 13, 1926, of which this application is a continuation in part. 4 I have found and believe that I am the first to discover that, the rubber constituent;

oi'this old rubber stock, when properly comminute'dand washed, may be devulcanized and reclaimedby subjecting the same to a treatment of hydrogenated naphthalene, or

anvone or more of the hydrogenated hydroy'claimed' rubber.

trituratin'g orlev 'gating process.

" stock may be leaving the remaining carbons of the naphthalene series in suitable proportions, and-the main object of the present invention i to makewuse of this hydrogenated naphthalene.as a; devulcamzing agent in the reclamation of the rubber from old rubber compounds and thereby to greatly expedite 'the'workof reclamation atcorrespondingly reduced cost, and at the.

same time to produce a betteriquality of 're- Another obj'ect. is to i'eclaim' 'therubber from old rubber compounds-containingmore or less fiber in such manner that all or some of the fiber inits original or comminuted form may be retained. in the reclaimed prod uct to s erve as a'bond or' filler according to the use to which said product may put.

Other objects and uses will be brought out in the following description In carrying out the ob ects-s or pro-used rubber-containing stock 15 stateb any suitable mechanical fiieans, such as mil ing ori grinding, or by any known v This comminuted stockis thensubje "dirt and" 0!:

suitable liquid, to remove loose, foreign matter,"

boiled in dilute sulphuric acid, or its equivalent, for 'ing and removing the residue'foreign matter, stock in a more or less moistened condition.

The sulphuric acid or its equivalent may besufliciently strongto entirely destroy any which the comn-iinuted stock may retain after Washing, but in some cases'it may reduced. to a finely. divided or comininuted".

o d: to'a thorough washing in twater, or othe after which the washed dissolving out, separat Application nee January as, man; s m 1m. mesa.

facketed receptacle whereitis agitated and 7 simultaneously heated by the steam in the Jacket at about seventy-five pounds pressure, or at a temperature of a pprox'i .mately 160. degree C. 3

While the dry comminuted stock in the Q kettle is being agitated and heated, a de.--

consisting of hydrovulcanizing agent genated hydro-carbon of the naphthalene series, or an hydrogenated naphthalene in;

about the proportion of 25% more or less of the weight of the mass," is addedto the stock I i .in the kettle,- and the kettle is then closed and sealed and he agitation and heating continued for a period of about two (2) hours, more or less.

While any one or more .ated hydro-carbons ries may be used as the devulcanizing agent with greater or less expediency and economy,I- have found that, the following are most practicable and expeditious (1) Di-hydro naphthalene. (2) Tetra-hydro naphthalene. (3) Hera-hydro naphthalene.

(4) Deca-hydro naphthalene. y (5) Di-hydro-beta naphthol. (6) Tetra -hydro-alpha' and beta naphthol. (7 Deca-hydro-alpha and beta naphthol.

1 (-8 Tetra-hydro-alpha and beta naphthylamine.'

y a-mifi Y a Itis to 'be understood, however, that this venti'on contemplates the use of any hyndrogenated hydro-carbons of the naphtha lene series alone or in combination, as a devulcanization agent, and'in such proportions and at such temperatures as may prove most expeditiou s,according to the nature,-quality or quantity of the stock under treatment-for reclaiming the rubber.

This de-vulcanizedsstock, while still inthe kettle, is next subjected to a distilling (preferably by vacuum) process for removing filler for the rubber, in

of the -hydrogen-'- of the naphthalenese- 9).---'Deca-hydro-alpha and beta naphmaintained, the steam pressure in the jacket w more or less for any excess, or. residue. of the devulcanizing agentor hydrogenated naphthalene which may be left following the devulcanizin process, when steam is preferably-introduce nto the mass to accelerate the expulsion of the last traces of the hydrogenated naphthalene compound, thus competing the reclamation process to nproduce the ,desiredreclaimed rubber. k

While the :vacuum in the kettle -isstill is, reduced-toabout twenty-five (25) 7 pounds ber w kettle and rolled, or otherwise treated for remanufacture into useful ,products. What Ieclaim is:

' 1. The herein described process of reclaiming rubber from old or used rubber stock, comprising the reduction of the stock vulcanizing agent.

to a finely divided or comminuted state, and subjecting the comminuted mass to a treat ment of hydrogenated naphthalene as a de- "2. The herein described process of re claiming rubber from old or used rubber stock by the use of an hydrogenated hydrocarbon of the naphthalene series as the devulcanizing agen 3. The herein described process of reclaiming rubber from old or used rubber t. stock, comprising the reduction of the stock 7 ing rubber-from old or used rubber stock,

' to a finely. divided or comminuted state, heating thefstock to a predetermined temperature .in the presence 0 an hydrogenated hydrovulcanizing agent. I

4. The herein described process of reclaimcomprising the reduction of the stoekto a finely divided or comminuted state, washing the stock and treating it with, dilute sulphuric acid and subsequentl drogenated naphthalene in e proportion of to a finel washing t lute sulphuric acid and subsequently adding drying the reclaimed rub-. hich may then be removed from the aboutthe proportion 0 adding an hythe rubber in{ the stock;

5. The herein described process of reclaiming rubber from old .or used rubber "stock,compri sing the reduction of the stock divlded or comminuted state,

it with diabout 25% of its weight fordevulcanizing e stock and treating an hydro enated naphthalene in the proportion of a out 25% of its weight for devulcanizing the rubber in the stock, and finally distilling 011' the excess hydrogenated naphthalene. t

6. The herein described process of reclaiming rubber from old or used rubber stock,'comprising. the reduction of the stock to a finely divided or comminuted state,

washing-the stock and treating it with dilute sulphuric acid, again washing the stock to remove the acid, drying the stock, and subsequently treating with a hydrogenated hydro-carbon v of the na hthalene series in I t 25% of the weight of the rubber stock, and finally distilling oil the excess hydrogenated hydro-carbon of the naphthalene series.

7. The herein described process of reclaiming rubber from vulcanized stock comprising the reduction of the stock to a finely comminuted state, adding to the comminuted stock .tetrahydronaphthalene in about the proportion of 25% of weight of the stock, and agitating the heat sufiicient to cause the liberation of combined sulphur. 8. The herein described process of"re-. claiming rubber from old or used rubber stock, comprising the reduction of the stock mixture in the presence of to a finely divided or comminuted state, and 

